The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-01-11
SKETCH OF Ills L1rE.
How he Rose From Poverty to Aflucnce-
VIZ 5.,5,s As u Sl,ip.builler. i.f


IF ,,5''- As n Ship.builder. il..f
Mr.. Roach was born in Mitchelltoyn,
county Cork, Ireland. His father was a
blacksmith, but very poor. He came to
this country when only l3 years Of age,
his passage having been paid by an uncle
who resided here. Before young Roach
arrived his uncle had migrated to Texas
and the lad found himself penniless and a
stranger in q strange land. For DAYS he
walked the streets in search of work, and
when night came on he slept wherever he
could, under sheds, in wagons and areas.
He finally set out for one OF the brick
yards up the State in hope of getting en-
ployment. He walked all the way to
Troy, living on charity by the way, and
was rewarded by obtaining work in
one OF the brick yards near that
city. The work he had 10 do was wheel
ing heavy barrels Of clay on a wheelbar-
row. For this he, was poorly paid, but
stuck to his work, and six yoara after be.
came foreman Of the .brickyard. Shortly
after he left the brick.ysrd and got en-
ployment in one OF the iron works Of Troy.
After learning his trade there he returned
to this city, finding work in Howsll's
foundry in Jersey City. In three years
be saved 1880, but this was lost by the
failure Of his employers. He opened a
little shop on the East river front and &C..
cured odd jobs in repairing ships, engines
and furnaces. He gradually enlarged his
business, extending his shop down in the
region Of the big ships arriving from all
parts Of the globe, and his future seemed
bright. Shortly after his shop was burn.
ed out, and, having no insurance was left
pennilees. 49, a 35-,g3 La
He then took turn at farming in Iii.
noie, and succeeded in boarding $l,5OO
which he invested in lands in that State.
Tirihg OF farming he returned to New
York, and established small factory
which grew steadily in magnitude until Ii
became known as the Atna Iron Works,
where the largest engines constructed in
the United States up to that time were
built. During the war he made hoilero
for factories and ships and gradually &C.
cumulated fortune. He built the first
compound engines in this country for
Trenton. In 1857 he purchased the Nor /.
gan Iron Works. Next he purchased the
Neptune Works; the Franklin Forge and
large property at Chester, Pa, where he
established in 1870 the extensive works
known as the Delaware River Iron Ship.
building and Engine Works., q corporation
of which Mr.. Roach was President. II
was capitalized at $750,000. The panic Of
1878 found him owing 500, 900. but his re-
sources were equal to the occasion. In
1875 rumors Of his failure vera extensive.
ly circulated, but they were set at rest
BY his publishing statement that
he was worth from $l,5OO,OOO to
$1,000 900 over all his liabilities. In 1884
he stated that he WAS worth upwards OF
s.. .0O0, 900. At several times he was inter-
ested in various lines Of steamers inclu-
ding the Mallory and Wards Havana
lines. He began building iron ships in
1871, and built III vessels, mostly at Ches-
ter, Pa, representing value o more than
$50 900, 900. In the spring Of 1883 he pur-
chased materials for the new cruisers OF
the navy for which he obtained contracts.
He built Bix iron turreted monitors out OF
nineteen constructed by the Government
within about twelve years. At one time
his fortune was estimated at s5,0O0,0OO.
Strictly speaking his recent suspension
was hardly failure. His assets nearly
doubled his liabilities. He claimed that
his credit was so much injured by the re-.
lection Of the Dolphin hs was compelled
TO suspend. He employed altogether
c,400 men at his various works and paid
$4,000 week in wages. The big boat
Pilgrim, Of the Fall River Line, is one OF
the last jobs Roach turned out in latter
years, His Assignment in 1885, after the
refusal Of the Dolphin by the Govern.
ment, nearly broke his heart. His tears
blotted the assignment paper as he signed
his name and hurried away to his home.